Color Psychology...

Image via: W Hotel Mexico City

Color can have an astounding effect on perceptions, feelings, and interactions. Different colors evoke different memories and different ideas.

Psychologists have been studying the effects of color on people for many years. While they have made many discoveries about color effects on people in different societies, they have not found any effects that occur across all societies. This means that the effect of color on a persons mind is individual and perceptual, rather than being physiological and inherent.

In order to choose the right color for a setting, you will have to see which color you harmonize best with. In the bedroom one tries to achieve maximum relaxation. By choosing the colors that you feel most comfortable with, you will find the greatest contentment with your decor.

Think about the following colors. Think about each one separately. Think about their different shades, how you feel about them, what they invoke in you.

Red. Orange. Yellow. Green. Blue. Violet. Purple. White. Black

Once you have gained insight into how you feel about those colors, you can read about the general effects these colors have on people in American society. Don't be afraid to disagree, your tastes are different from anyone else's.

The two extreme colors are white and black. Black is an attention grabber, and can create a bedroom with a dark, sultry look. Unfortunately it will also make the room look smaller and seem more restrictive. Overuse of the color black can be dangerous in a room like the bedroom, as it can darken a person's mood. It may even produce night mares. Meanwhile its polar opposite, white, can be uninspiring. Most rooms start off with white walls, and it is the generic look for many homes. It can have a positive and soothing effect on ones emotions, but it may also lead to a lack of stimulation which can be a terrible thing in a bedroom. Whatever ones perceptions however, white is a good color for warm climates. White reflects light creating cooler temperatures and a breezy feeling.

The earth tones are gentle and will keep a bedroom feeling close and snuggly, as long as you pay attention to the tones you use. These colors include browns, oranges, and yellows.

Browns tend to remind of family, and of emotional bonds to each other and the world. Orange is a color that makes people happy, but is also the color associated with food and could lead to midnight snacking. Yellow creates a very positive effect on people psychologically, but only short term. Long term exposure to this color can lead to irritation.

Blues and greens evoke serenity and peace. They are colors associated with nature and the ocean. Using these colors in your bedroom can help to calm the emotions of its inhabitants, and bring restful nights. Blue will also calm cravings for food after you've gone to bed, because there is very little blue food in nature, so our minds tend to repress hunger at its site.

Image via: Camille Soulayrol

Pink is the extreme calming color and many will find it impossible to act aggressively when surrounded by it. Purple is a nice color for a bedroom, it will make it look more sophisticated.

Red is an exciting color. If you have trouble falling asleep, don't use red in the bedroom. However, to get a tired relationship going, red may be just the color you want. Red is a good color for sheets or blankets, because if it becomes too distracting it can be put away until desired.

Most importantly, it is the colors effect on your own mind that is important, and only you can truly understand your own impressions.

Text by designer Joey Lewitin

Original designs from him and other artisans can be seen at http://pebblez.com

What color would you use in your bedroom and why?